New pilot program at Ashland High School provides training opportunity
Ashland High School and Rogue Community College have launched a new pilot program this fall to prepare high school students for careers as phlebotomists, addressing a growing need for trained health care workers in the Rogue Valley.
The partnership, funded by the Allied Health Scholarship Fund of Ashland Community Health Foundation (ACHF), will support a cohort of high school students working toward a Phlebotomy Certificate before graduation. Students who enroll and complete the course will earn both a Phlebotomy Certificate and a Basic Health Certificate, credentials that qualify them to begin working in the field immediately.
The timing reflects a broader national trend: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for phlebotomists is projected to grow 6% through 2034.
“We are excited to create opportunities for our students to explore career pathways in health,” said Dr. Francisco L. Atanes, Ashland High School Principal. “As our students move forward in their high school journey, we are excited for them to have the opportunity to earn professional certifications. We are grateful for our partners: Ashland Community Health Foundation and Rogue Community College and their support for this program and our initial cohort.”
The program is designed to give students hands-on exposure to health care careers while still in high school, offering a low-barrier entry point into the field. It also serves as a foundation for further study, giving graduates a pathway toward more advanced certifications, such as paramedic training.
The launch builds on momentum from a conference hosted by the Ashland Chamber of Commerce earlier this year and sponsored by ACHF, Pipeline to Progress: Building the Future of Healthcare Workforce, which brought together educators, health care employers, and workforce development leaders to address regional staffing shortages.
“One of the goals of the Ashland Chamber’s Pipeline to Progress Conference was to bring together the right leaders from education, health care, philanthropy, and workforce development to move beyond conversation and into action,” said Sandra Slattery, Executive Director of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see those new relationships already producing tangible results. This partnership between Ashland High School, Rogue Community College, and the Ashland Community Health Foundation is exactly the kind of collaborative solution we hoped to inspire as we work together to strengthen the health care workforce pipeline in Southern Oregon.”
To contribute to the Allied Health Scholarship Fund and create more opportunities like this for students, visit achfoundation.org or contact Stephanie Roland at 541-482-0367 x2.
